The drop in global production emphasizes the need to develop crop varieties that can handle drought and weather stress
BARCELONA, Spain (Thomson Reuters Foundation) — Droughts and extreme heat have cut national cereal production around the world by an average of nine percent in the last half-century, researchers say. The impact has worsened since the mid-1980s, they added. Cereal production losses averaged 13.7 percent in drought years from 1985, compared with 6.7 percent during […] Read moreNews
Drought damage to cereal crops worsening, say researchers
Over supply, low demand send global food prices down in 2015
ROME, Italy (Reuters) — Global food prices plunged 19 percent last year following a fresh decline in December on the back of plentiful supplies and a slowing global economy. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization said it was the fourth consecutive annual fall in food prices. The FAO’s food price index, which measures monthly […] Read more
Drought forces Africa to rethink GM opposition
Several countries are amending rules to allow imports of GM grain to improve production and reduce hunger
HARARE, Zimbabwe (Reuters) — A scorching drought in southern Africa that led to widespread crop failure could nudge African nations to finally embrace genetically modified crops to improve harvests and reduce grain imports. The drought, which extends to South Africa, the continent’s biggest corn producer, has been exacerbated by an El Nino and follows dry […] Read moreNew technology, water key to feeding world
Climate change will force policies on management and sustainability as the need for a secure water supply grows
Feeding 9.6 billion people within 30 years means addressing climate change and its effect on water availability, said the head of the Saskatoon-based Global Institute for Food Security at the recent Grow Canada conference in Calgary. “The history of agriculture is the history of technological innovation,” said Maurice Moloney. Food shortages and poverty could lead […] Read moreB.C. farmers seek compensation in treaty renewal
There have been a lot of changes in agriculture in the Pacific Northwest since the Columbia River Treaty was implemented in 1964. The British Columbia government is now looking to continue and improve the treaty as it comes up for renewal in 2024, and B.C. tree fruit and vegetable growers are looking for a share […] Read more
Mosaic joins winter wheat initiative
news briefs funding announced The winter wheat industry in western Canada is getting a financial boost from Mosaic. The Mosaic Company Foundation announced Jan. 11 during Crop Production Week in Saskatoon that it has joined the Western Winter Wheat Initiative (WWWI) and will contribute $1 million over the next three years to the initiative. The […] Read more
Creditors get fraction of money in pigeon scam
Victims of a Canadian pigeon breeding fraud are finally receiving financial compensation. Unfortunately, 80 eligible claimants in the bankruptcy case will split only $130,000. They were asking for $3 million. Arlan Galbraith, owner of Pigeon King International in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont., declared bankruptcy in 2008. He owed $23 million to unsecured creditors. In December, creditors attempting […] Read more
Ocean freight rate hits new low
WINNIPEG — The downtrend in ocean freight rates is showing no sign of letting up as the Baltic Dry Index once again hit fresh historic lows. The BDI was quoted at 445 points Jan. 7, marking a new low since records began in 1985. The index was trading higher than 1,200 as recently as the […] Read more
Herders, farmers fight over water in Kenya
The sale of formerly common land to farmers has created problems for pastoralists who rely on it to graze their animals
KIBOYA, Kenya (Thomson Reuters Foundation) — It’s a hot, windy afternoon in Kiboya village. Dusty leaves swirl around William Ekidor, his wife, Martha, and their two sons as they sit under an acacia tree by the Kajunge dam, lining up with their animals for water. Ekidor and his family, pastoralists who herd 140 cattle, sheep […] Read moreAWC seeks new director-at-large
Alberta wheat growers will have a chance this month to elect a new director to the Alberta Wheat Commission. The commission announced Jan. 5 that a director-at-large election will be held during its Jan. 27 annual meeting in Edmonton. Three Alberta growers are vying for the seat. Kevin Bender of Bentley, Darrel Stokes from Hussar […] Read more
